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Study: Australian Thoroughbreds Retired Sound Easier To Rehome

After a outcry of public concern regarding the fate of Thoroughbred racehorses when their racing careers were over, a study team was created to assess the incidence, risk factors and outcome for retiring racehorses in Australia.

Drs. Kylie Crawford, Anna Finnane, Ristan Greer, Clive Phillips, Solomon Woldeyohannes, Nigel Perkins and Benjamin Ahern investigated how many horses were retired from racing at the Brisbane Racing Club in Australia over a 13-month period. The team invited all license trainers at the track with three or more horses in work to participate: 27 of the 40 eligible trainers agreed to take part in the study.

It was determined that a median of 544 racehorses were in training each week, with 110 horses retired during the study; 56 of these horses were retired involuntarily because of things like musculoskeletal injuries, cardiac conditions, respiratory concerns or behavior issues. Of these problems, musculoskeletal issues were the most common, afflicting 40 of the 110 horses. The remaining horses were retired voluntarily.

The study team found that 108 of the 110 horses that were retired were repurposed–nearly 46 percent were used as performance horses in their next career. Two of the study horses could not be located. Horses that were retired without injury were 2.28 times more likely to find a performance-horse home.

At a 14-month follow up, it was discovered that four of the horses had been euthanized and one was sent to an abattoir after aggravating an old injury. No horses were euthanized or sent to the abattoir by their racing owner or trainer upon their retirement.

The team notes that long-term outcomes for the horses were not completed. They conclude there is insufficient control over the long-term welfare of retired racehorses.

Read the full study here.

Equine Piroplasmosis Spreading To More-Temperate Regions

A recent study shows that equine piroplasmosis (EP) is spreading to more-temperate areas of the world where it has not yet been found. A parasitic infection, EP can be spread by ticks and through contaminated needles, syringes, surgical equipment and products through blood contact.

Horses that have piroplasmosis have a high fever, go off their feed and are lethargic. Their legs may swell, as does their spleen; they have a rapid heart rate and urine discoloration. Affected horses may die; if the horse recovers, he will be recessive carrier of the disease for the rest of his life.

EP is common in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. An outbreak of piroplasmosis has economic consequences as it can halt international equine movement between endemic and non-endemic regions.

Drs. Sharon Tirosh-Levy, Yuval Gottlieb, Lindsay Fry, Donald Knowles and Amir Steinman analyzed the serological, epidemiological, and molecular diagnostic data on EP published in the last 20 years to better understand how prevalent the parasites that cause the disease are.

The team concluded that EP is endemic in most parts of the world and that it is spreading into more-temperate climates that had previously been considered free from the parasite. It's estimated that 90 percent of the horses in the world live in areas where EP is endemic.

There is no vaccine for EP; control of the disease includes a combination of medications, vector control and limited transport of infected horses. Treatment and control strategies differ between endemic and non-endemic regions. The United States, Australia, and Japan are non-endemic countries that deny EP-positive horses entrance to their countries; these countries quarantine, export or euthanize infected horses.

Read the review here.

Horses In North Carolina Dying From Mystery Illness

New Hope Stables in North Carolina has had four horses die from a mystery illness that veterinarians cannot isolate or explain. Treasure, an 18-year-old rescue horse used in the stable's lesson program, was the first horse afflicted and was originally suspected to be colicking when barn workers found him down on September 23.

When the veterinarian arrived, however, it was apparent that Treasure was not colicking, but the horse was experiencing gastrointestinal irritation. The gelding was sent to Woodside Equine Clinic in Richmond, VA, where he deteriorated and was euthanized.

On Sept. 28, several other horses at the farm became ill and three died. Three horses remain in the clinic and nearly half of the farm's stable is on intravenous fluids.

Treating veterinarian Dr. Shanna Edwards has asked colleagues all over the United States for opinions; thus far no conclusive diagnosis has been reached, even after a necropsy of one of the horses.

Affected horses have diarrhea, colic and fever, and become bloated and lethargic. Edwards suspects a toxin may be in the horse's hay, grain or water as every horse in the farm is affected, which doesn't typically happen with an infectious disease. The farm has stopped using their well water and has brought in new hay and grain.

A GoFundMePage has raised nearly $30,000 of the $20,000 goal.

Heart-Rate Variability May Indicate Outcome Of Colic Cases

Colic, a catch-all term for abdominal pain in horses, can be caused by a variety of reasons; it can be a life-or-death situation and requires immediate veterinary care. Colic is stressful for horses; horses that are actively colicking have an increased cortisol level and heart rate. A new study shows that heart-rate variability may be a key indicator in assessing the possible outcome of colic cases.

Drs. Heidrun Gehlen, Maria-Dorothee Faust, Remigiusz Grzeskowiak and Dagmar Trachsel of the Free University in Berlin, and Dr. Remigiusz Grzeskowiak of the University of Tennessee wanted to determine if horses showed varying stress levels with different types of colic, therefore warranting different treatment strategies.

The team used 43 horses admitted to two different equine hospitals for colic and categorized them into three groups: surgical, conservative (non-surgical) and euthanized. The scientists studied the blood tests and heart-rate variability of the horses at admission, 24 hours after admission and at discharge.

The team found that heart rate and cortisol levels decreased the day after admission and on the day of discharge in both the surgical and non-surgical groups of horses, indicating that they were not as stressed as they were during their intake into the hospital.

However, decreases in heart rate and cortisol levels were not seen in the horses that were ultimately euthanized. The difference in heart rate in the euthanized and non-euthanized horses was most obvious the day after admission.

The team concluded that heart-rate variability can offer treating veterinarians important information on the stress level of colicking horses and may be helpful in assessing the possible outcome. They suggest further studies be completed.

Read the full study here.